Help me buy an Alfine equipped bike
BarryRoubaix
Posts: 34
I'm interested in a hub geared bike for my daily commute (2-6 miles each way, Bike is second part of the commute) on road and bike/tow path.
I've decided anything Alfine hub geared fits my criteria. Please don't recommend fixed etc. I have 5 other bikes which are likely to fit any of the genres you might suggest apart from unicycle.
I've been looking at the following but am struggling to find any alternatives.
- Ridgeback Nemesis - seems to be ideal @ £529
- Merida S'presso - Too expensive
- Giant Escape R sub zero - 700c wheels, fancy 26" as easier to throw in the back of the car.
Does anyone have any thoughts or alternatives to this list?
My budget is up to £700 but in reality i'd rather go between £500 - £600
I've decided anything Alfine hub geared fits my criteria. Please don't recommend fixed etc. I have 5 other bikes which are likely to fit any of the genres you might suggest apart from unicycle.
I've been looking at the following but am struggling to find any alternatives.
- Ridgeback Nemesis - seems to be ideal @ £529
- Merida S'presso - Too expensive
- Giant Escape R sub zero - 700c wheels, fancy 26" as easier to throw in the back of the car.
Does anyone have any thoughts or alternatives to this list?
My budget is up to £700 but in reality i'd rather go between £500 - £600
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Comments
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You will still have a bit of trouble tossing a 26" bike in the back of the car unless it is a fairly large car. Do you have a folder? The birdys are pretty nice.0
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also a 700c with 23mm tyres isn't a huge amount bigger than decent sized slick tyres on a 26" tyre.0
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It's a civic, swallows my 21" rockhopper etc etc.
Couldn't live with a folder - Still too much of a conservative ex-roadie.
I appreciate they have their uses and are a brilliant bit of engineering but my prejudice is too great. At least i'm honest.
The bikes listed above would also be suitable for a kiddie trailer should junior arrive.
Christ what's happening to me - commuter bike.... kids. This was never part of the master plan.
Ok - 700c not ruled out (spare fronts wont be a problem I've got more wheels than I know what to do with).
Back to the bikes please.... anymore suggestions. Please name some alfine bikes I should be looking at.0 -
A unicycle?0
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You might be able to make an alfine pompino for around that much, they're fairly sweet, the prototype was 649.99 but is now sold.0
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ride_whenever wrote:You might be able to make an alfine pompino for around that much, they're fairly sweet, the prototype was 649.99 but is now sold.
A leftfield option might be a Charge Mixer (IIRC), but tyre clearances might be a little tight and the style may not be for you. Personally, I'd build up an Alfine bike around a Surly Cross Check frame and a JTek Alfine bar end shifter, the Pompy would run a close second.
ps. IMHO, Sub-Zero is nice.David
Engineered Bicycles0 -
Mixer looks nice but pushes my budget too far. RRP = circa £899
Thanks for the suggestion though.0 -
Dahon cadenza 8 has Alfine, disk brakes, speedy 26" slicks and EEB for chain tension.
the frame folds for car portage. When its not folded it looks and rides like a normal bike. I ride mine 2x6 miles and it is a really good fast-cruising town bike. The 2008 model is still available at a steal.
I would avoid any bike using the chain tensioner device and beware of using horizontal dropouts with disks, it may affect disk alighnment0 -
Winstanley's have the Bianchi Camaleto listed in the price range...
if it was my money I'd be tempted to call On One and ask them about a pompino with an alfine built into a wheel, it would probably be the cost of a standard pomp, plus hub plus the standard single wheel build cost
you say you have 5 bikes currently, could you convert one of the existing fleet?"I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
--Jens Voight0 -
Saracen Pylon 8 from Rutland's Ebay store for £300?
If worried about the weight (approx 13Kg on my quality bathroom scales), you could strip the frame and use either an On-One Scandal (was £200 at the weekend) or a rock lobster tig team sl from Merlin (£209) along with perhaps an "exotic" carbon rigid frame from Ebay (~£80). Or like said above, that £99 Pompino frame offer may still be on.
You could even go the 29er route if that Scandal offer is still on, albeit you would need to sort out a 29er front wheel and get the hub gear rebuilt onto a larger rim.
All depends on how special you want your Alfine commuter to be and how deseperate you are to spend 700 squids...
I opted to stick with the default Saracen, fit some 1.75" Marathon Pluses (coverred by selling original tyres) and a set of SKS Beavertail mudguards. Yes, its a lot heavier than my Felt, but I'm enjoying the cushioned ride of those fat tyres through the myriad of potholes and the more upright position!================
2020 Voodoo Marasa
2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
2016 Voodoo Wazoo0 -
cannondale badboy?BMC TM01 - FCN 0
Look 695 (Geared) - FCN 1
Bowman Palace:R - FCN 1
Cannondale CAAD 9 - FCN 2
Premier (CX) - FCN 6
Premier (fixed/SS) - FCN30 -
hi check out my home build specialized on page 13 of comuting bike pics had it since sept done 3000 miles since all thru the winter not missed a beat , often do 35 miles a day even done a few club runs on it0
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I can't see eBay in work but there was an Alfine geared Saracen Pylon for £300 on this link a few days ago
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/18-SARACEN-PYLON- ... 4%3A50null
Possibly the same one here
http://www.google.co.uk/product_url?q=h ... n&sa=title0 -
by the way, does the alfine hub work with any sti type shifters?0
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jedster wrote:by the way, does the alfine hub work with any sti type shifters?
There is a custom handlebar endcap shifter made by someone (begins with "j"?). I believe the Nexus grip shift works too.================
2020 Voodoo Marasa
2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
2016 Voodoo Wazoo0 -
jtek
http://jtekengineering.com/jtek_bar-end_shifter.htm
as for Alfine bikes, I've looked at a Merida s'presso with tyres taht look like you'd have to walk around most corners. El cheapo tyres, not Conti or Swalbe slicks. Looked a bit rich too at £8500 -
Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 20170 -
I got pointed to one of them when I was wondering about a hubbed commuter. I hate to think how many times you have to pump up your front after someone's tried to nick the tyre, even if it's chained to something.
It looks like a thief magnet!Bike/Train commuter: Brompton S2L - "Machete"
12mile each way commuter: '11 Boardman CX with guards and rack
For fun: '11 Wilier La Triestina
SS: '07 Kona Smoke with yellow bits0 -
Oh yeah I agree, the guy in evans pointed me at it. My initial thought was 'I'd love that bike for the 7 minutes that I had it'
Someone would probably nick it from under you :shock:Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
Vitus Sentier VRS - 20170